The Whole Gritty City

The Whole Gritty City is a unique, fascinating window into the little-known world of New Orleans school marching bands. The documentary is a dramatic, music-filled story of children struggling to reach adulthood in one of America's most impoverished and violent cities. The film follows kids in three bands as the directors get them ready to perform in the Mardi Gras parades, and teach them to succeed and to survive. Navigating the urban minefield through moments of setback, loss, discovery, and triumph, these children and their adult leaders reveal the power and resilience of a culture.

An anthology of Jazz profiling the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Ma Rainey, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, The Dorsey Brothers, Django Rheinhardt and countless other artists from popular swing era of the 1930s and '40s.

Following his father's suicide, Jonathan Holiff discovers hundreds of letters and audio diaries, including secretly recorded phone calls with Johnny Cash during his crazed pill-fueled 1960s, triumphs at Folsom and San Quentin, marriage to June Carter, and his conversion in the early 1970s to born-again Christian. These artifacts tell the story about how Holiff Sr. and Cash collaborated to create a superstar, while each struggled with personal demons. A fascinating behind-the-scenes view of the complex relationship between the notorious singer and his long-suffering manager--it is also a catharsis for its maker and engrossing journalism to boot.

“Gilad and All That Jazz” is an exquiside music documentary following a flourishing year in the life of one of modern music's greatest saxophonists and one of Europe's most controversial public speakers.

Recorded in December 2006 in a tiny church located in the south west corner of Ireland, the town of Dingle played host to Amy whilst she recorded the show for Irish TV music series Other Voices. Amy delivered an electrifying 20 minute live performance to a crowd of 85 in the tiny St James's Church, with acoustic performances of songs from her 'Back To Black' Album. In the revealing interview Amy spoke of her musical influences such as Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles and the Shangri-Las and how she came to love jazz music.

Jiri Kylian is a living legend. He is the creator of more than a hundred works, several of which form part of the repertories of some of the greatest dance centres in the world. Due to the choreographer's extreme reluctance to engage in a documentary, this film is exceptional. For the first time one can have a real close look at Kylian's life, his way of thinking and his most significant creations. The film was shot in Den Haag, Prague, Monte-Carlo and Paris.

The Jazz Sessions spotlights Andrew Hill, a great and even groundbreaking composer and pianist. While many of his contemporaries were totally jettisoning the rhythmic and harmonic techniques of bop and hard bop, Hill worked to extend their possibilities; his was a revolution from within. He exhibited a determined command of his materials, however abstract they might sometimes be. His composed melodies were labyrinthine, rhythmically and harmonically complex tunes that exhibit a sophistication born of mastery, not chance or contingency.

Thrust into heavy metal stardom as teenagers with their debut release, the all-female Kittie has thrashed the heavy metal world for more than twenty years. With six albums, over two million in sales and OzzFest co-headliners on their resume, Kittie has defied industry norms, fought back against â€œwomen in rockâ€ stereotypes, and inspired a generation of rockers around the globe. Now for the first time, they are sharing their untold story about the importance of family, perseverance, and the upside-down hurricane of rock â€˜n roll that includes a rotating line-up of bandmates, on-going lawsuits and the pressure to live up to the expectations that put them on the map. Generously peppered with archival footage shot by the band, this film gives you an honest and brutal look at what it takes to survive in the music industry and the price of following your dreams.

This film gives us the definitive chronicle of hip-hop from its beginnings. See the evolution of music with vintage footage, live performances and exclusive interviews with hip hop legends including Snoop Dog, Ice Cube, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., P. Diddy and many more….

The programme looks at a collection of live performances of the psychedelic movement, examining the music, the drugs and the people who were instrumental in its development and success. Including performances from Jimmy Hendrix, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and many more....

Armed only with strut and pure provocation, 6ft Hick level a rock and roll sucker punch you would lean in for. 6,000 kms across Europe for 15 shows in 18 days gives way to blood, sex, and pure adrenaline.

When he released "Bitches Brew" in 1970, Miles Davis opened up a new angle to jazz which stirred up emotions like no other record before. Some critics accused Davis of selling out, while the public bought it like crazy. It is one of the most examined albums of all time, even garnering a box set of the sessions. To date, "Bitches Brew" is one of the top selling jazz albums of all time. "Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue" examines the next step in the creative process...performing these songs live. The 1970 Isle of Wight featured an array of performers from The Who to Jethro Tull to Joni Mitchell. With improvisation playing a big role in the performance, the band (Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Gary Bartz and Dave Holland) had to be "on", yet ready to change on the fly. Directed by award-winning producer Murray Lerner, "Miles Electric" sits down with several of the performers who played with Miles, interspersed with his 1970 Isle of Wight performance, as well as artists such as Carlos Santana and Joni Mitchell, who describe the impact Miles Davis had towards music.

With more than 2000 album credits to his name, 2015 Grammy Nominee Nathan East is one of the most recorded bass players of all time. His sound is legendary and he's the most famous musician you don't know.

"For The Record" is a documentary film that takes viewers behind-the-scenes as one of the most influential bass players in modern music recorded his debut solo album last year. His long-awaited solo album spent four weeks at #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Album chart and 34 weeks in the top position on smoothjazz.com. "For The Record" also chronicles Nathan's three decade plus career from when he hit the road age 16 with Barry White, his session and touring work across musical genres and membership in the legendary jazz quartet Fourplay. The film features interviews with many of the musicians he's worked with including Clapton, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Vince Gill, Herbie Hancock, Don Was and more.

"Let's Get Lost" is an American documentary film about the turbulent life and career of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker written and directed by Bruce Weber. The title is derived from a song by Jimmy McHugh and Frank Loesser from the 1943 film Happy Go Lucky which Baker recorded for Pacific Records. A group of Baker fans, ranging from ex-associates to ex-wives and children, talk about the man. Weber’s film traces the man’s career from the 1950s, playing with jazz greats like Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, and Russ Freeman, to the 1980s, when his heroin addiction and domestic indifference kept him in Europe.

In this film we take an intimate look into the lives of one of the most famous rappers in the world. Including interviews from industry experts and Lil Wayne himself, this is a must see for any Lil Wayne fan.

Mumford & Sons are a band that have never stayed still. An innate desire to travel, to meet people and to do the unexpected has become a calling card of sorts as fans the world over join their community and fall in love with their consistently evolving music. This film follows the band and their latest set of collaborators as they travel across uncharted territory playing the major cities of South Africa with an eclectic mix of musician friends. They explore the craft of song writing and the people, events and influences that dictate that. WE WROTE THIS YESTERDAY showcases the band at their most open and collaborative as they relish the excitement of playing to crowds in new cities who’ve never seen them before. Along the way they set a fresh challenge for themselves; taking their collaborative culture one step further as they attempt to write and record a mini album in just 2 days, with the other musicians on tour. The filming of this process not only lifts the lid on the art of song writing in an unforced and natural way but captures the journey and story as a group of artists collide, bringing references, ideas and musical styles from Senegal, Sweden, Malawi, Cape Town and London. By exploring South Africa its influence seeps into their musical collaboration.

Niall Horan first rose to fame in 2010 when he auditioned as a solo artist on the British X factor. His X Factor journey led him on a path that would see him become a member of the boy band One Direction. He quickly established himself as a fan favourite as One Direction started to become a global phenomena. As One direction started to become global superstars, it was Harry Styles who was expected to become the bands leading man, but as their popularity grew, it was apparent that the boy from Ireland was by far the most popular member, especially in the USA. As One Direction establish their name as the biggest boy band of all time, we invite you to follow the story of their leading man: Niall Horan.

100% Silk is an independent record label and taste-maker in the expanding and evolving world of electronic dance music. In June of 2012, four core acts from the label, LA Vampires, Ital, Magic Touch and Maria Minerva, embarked a lengthy group tour through the UK, Europe, and beyond. SILK is an expressionistic documentary that chronicles the performances, cultural environments, and global scenes through which the trip traveled. The motivating philosophies and emotions of the artists involved are visually articulated with seven fully staged dance sequences conceived and choreographed by Mecca Vazie Andrews and the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company. SILK is a music documentary, live concert experience, essayistic travelogue and above all, dance film.

The banjo has been an emblem of American culture for centuries, yet few realize the instrument's complicated, checkered past. Narrated by Steve Martin and featuring such banjo masters as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs and Béla Fleck, GIVE ME THE BANJO goes beyond the stereotypes and delves into the musical odyssey of the banjo, from its African roots to the present day. Brought to the New World by enslaved Africans, the banjo has shaped many American musical forms: the minstrel show, ragtime, and early jazz, old-time folk and the folk revival, as well as blues, bluegrass, country and world music. Packed with great music, this documentary brings together a wide variety of banjo experts - including music historians, instrument-makers, folklorists, and players of all styles - and profiles past greats such as Charlie Poole and Gus Cannon to celebrate the cultural richness of America's quintessential musical instrument.

Divided Time is a documentary that explores the balance between fatherhood and pursuing a career as a recording artist. Filmmaker William Feagins, Jr. shines a spotlight on a group of passionate musicians who are working towards achieving their dreams until life happens and then the pursuit becomes how to still go after the dream and maintain a family without giving up. The film examines fatherhood, relationships, the impact being a father had on their music, as well as the financial and personal sacrifices that are made to obtain the success that many want but very few obtain.

The Last Goodbye is an intimate look into the life and times of Amy Winehouse. This in-depth program chronicles her rise to pop superstardom and also offers a sensitive portrayal of a transformative star and the inner demons that inspired her work and eventually caused her untimely death. Her battle with addiction and her courtship with self destruction were well documented through the press. Even her troubled relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil was played out in front of British Media. But despite this backdrop, Amy Winehouse will be remembered for her unique song writing style fusing R & B, soul and jazz influences sang through a deep contralto vocal. The 'Back to Black' album symbolised her huge success at this time which led to an astonishing 5 Grammy awards- 'the most wins by a female artist in a single night'. This insightful programme is a definitive testimonial to an incredible music icon covering the start of her career up until her death.

Lady Gaga- the worlds most talented and controversial pop star. Born and raised in New York City, Gaga started as an aspiring pianist and songwriter, having taught herself to play the piano at a very young age. She soon shot to fame through sheer determination and after the release of her debut album, The Fame. One Sequin at Time explores the ups and downs of this highly influential superstar. With commentary from such stars as Ozzy Osbourne, Akon, and Michael Bolton, see how Lady Gaga is taking on the world - one sequin at a time.

An inside look at how the superstar rose to fame and why she continues to splash the headline today. Now an international sensation, Gaga's music reflects her innermost experiences and secrets. She is known for pushing the boundaries in her shows with outrageous themes and outfits and lovingly calls her fans little monsters. With rare footage of Gaga herself and interviews from industry professionals, this is her incredible story.

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